Columbus, Ohio – The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) is pleased to announce the winners and honorable mentions of the 2025 Dear Readers and Riders National Essay Contest generously supported by a donation from acclaimed wine columnist, author and equestrian enthusiast, Lettie Teague. The Dear Readers and Riders National Essay Contest pays tribute to the legacy of American children’s book writer, Marguerite Henry, and her lifelong relationship with her readers.
“IEA riders are exactly the readers for whom Marguerite Henry wrote her books: equestrians dedicated to the love and care of the horse,” says Teague. For more than five decades, Marguerite Henry wrote “true” stories of horses, and boys, and girls. That is, they were mostly true “with a little bit of magic” as Marguerite once said. For example, there was a pony named Misty, and she did come from Chincoteague and the Beebe Farm, but she also lived with Marguerite at her home in Illinois for ten years before she returned to Chincoteague to have her first foal.
IEA youth members were encouraged to explore their creativity in storytelling by writing their own true horse story – with a bit of added magic! After 100+ inspiring submissions from across the nation, the following participants stood out for their exceptional creativity, originality, and passion:
Winners and Honorable Mentions
Middle School Winning Essay: IEA is mine
â—† Dahlia Neuman, Grade 7, Silvermine Farm, Zone 1
Middle School Honorable Mention
â—† Liv Allen, Grade 8, Cranberry Acres Equestrian IEA Team, Zone 1
Upper School Winning Essay: The Horse That Taught Her To Forgive
â—† Maddie Shoop-Gardner, Grade 10, Woodside, Zone 10
Upper School Honorable Mentions:
â—† Scout Mortensen, Grade 12, Ojai Valley School, Zone D6
â—† Josie Arnold, Grade 11, Dream Big Equestrian, Zone 4
— Edited Press Release
